Entertainment · Celebrity · 2 hrs ago
Chuck Lorre Says CBS Initially Opposed Melissa McCarthy’s Mike & Molly Casting
Chuck Lorre says CBS executives initially resisted casting Melissa McCarthy as Molly Flynn in the sitcom Mike & Molly.
One executive reportedly suggested casting a thinner actress and using a fat suit to portray Molly, a Chicago schoolteacher.
Lorre opposed the idea and stood by McCarthy, whom he considered right for the part.
He recounts the disagreement in his memoir, Sitcom, and says McCarthy knew about it and was fine with him sharing the story.
McCarthy later earned an Emmy for her role, and the sitcom helped boost her career as her film work also took off.
Mike & Molly ran for six seasons before ending in 2016, with McCarthy starring opposite Billy Gardell.
Chuck Lorre says CBS initially resisted casting Melissa McCarthy as Molly Flynn in Mike & Molly.
One CBS executive reportedly suggested casting a thinner actress and using a fat suit.
Lorre said he opposed the idea and believed McCarthy was right for the role.
He recounts the casting dispute in his new memoir, Sitcom, and discussed it in an interview with People.
McCarthy later won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for the sitcom in 2011.
- Who
- Chuck Lorre, Melissa McCarthy and CBS executives.
- What
- Lorre says CBS initially opposed McCarthy’s casting as Molly Flynn, while he argued she was right for the role.
- When
- Not stated. The story is included in Lorre’s new memoir and was discussed in a recent interview.
- Where
- Mike & Molly is set in Chicago.
- Why
- Not stated. Lorre said he believed McCarthy was the right person for the part.
Chuck Lorre
CBS executives
Casting
Chuck Lorre
Lorre said Melissa McCarthy was right for the role and rejected the alternative.
CBS executives
One executive reportedly suggested casting a thinner actress and using a fat suit to portray Molly.
CBS executives initially pushed back on casting McCarthy, and Lorre said he opposed their suggested alternative.
McCarthy won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.
Mike & Molly concluded after six seasons.
Lorre’s memoir Sitcom included the casting story, which he also discussed in an interview with People.
- Role
- Melissa McCarthy played Molly Flynn.
- Alternative proposed
- One CBS executive reportedly suggested a thinner actress and a fat suit.
- Series setting
- Chicago.
- Emmy award
- McCarthy won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 2011.
- Series run
- Six seasons; concluded in 2016.
What people are saying
Melissa was gonna be my Molly. End of discussion.
There was such a crazy resistance to this once-in-a-lifetime talent,
She is truly one of our great comic actresses, and she’s done dramatic stuff as well that’s extraordinary.